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X.
Creativity and
cowardice
President Richard Nixon announced
Wednesday two proposals which, if
implemented, might assure adequate housing
for more people.
One calls for direct payments to persons,
particularly the elderly poor, so they can
obtain adequate accommodations outside of
government subsidized housing projects. The
second plan is intended to encourage banks to
hold down mortgage interest rates and
through tax incentives increase the amount of
money available to buy new homes.
Both plans show a mixture of creativity
and cowardice. The direct subsidy plan might
provide the poor and elderly with a way out
of the monotony of the high-rise slums the
government has subsidized. Such housing
projects erode the dignity of the elderly and
poor. The attempt to free such persons from
their architectural bondage is laudable.
In announcing the proposal, Nixon said it
costs the government 15 to 40 percent more
to house persons in such projects than it
would to subsidize them directly for similar
privately-owned housing. If this is true, then
that proposal ought to be adopted
immediately. Perhaps it would be a first step
toward providing adequate housing for those
most in need.
However, the second proposal should not
be adopted. It would encourage borrowing for
home purchases and make interest rates more
bearable. But it also would increase the
inflation rate and not solve a major problem
facing the prospective home owner: tight
money.
Banks are offering a 10 per cent prime
interest rate to their best investors. This is
e lected in higher mortgage rates and down
payments. By making these high rates more
bearable the administration would oster a
greate demand for loans This would force
?he prime rate even higher as the Federal
Reserve Bank attempts to keep money tight
to control inflation. irifnr
If Nixon was courageous, he would call tor
a cut in the 7 per cent business investment tax
credit This would lessen current corporation
demands for money for expansion and
increase money available for prospective
home buyers. If the two were to balance,
there would be no need for another prime
interest rate increase. Money would be kept
tight, and inflation might be controlled
better The economy also would be kept
strong through the building of more
residential housing.
If Nixon were not afraid of the political
repercussions of taking a whack at big
business, he could offer a better solution to
problems facing persons who want to own
their own homes.
Michael (O.J.) Nelson
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Art tjy H.irol-J Wood
Lincoln life:
drinking beer,
dipping feet,
making out...
eith londgren
As a public service and as a slap in the face of any
wretch who insists Lincoln is dull, here are some
suggestions about what to do in Lincoln.
Put your feet in Croyhill Fountain, or the Sunken
Garden pool or one of the pools on the 15th St. mall.
(But don't do this in the winter.)
Check on the progress of the new hotel, the NBC
Bldg. or the Federal Bldg. Find out where a building
is being torn down and bring the address to Casey's.
Hippies will come and applaud as each crunch and
crash resounds.
Go to the top floor of the Capitol and look at
Harper-Schramm Smith.
Go into the Hob Nob for a beer and see one of the
most spectacular bars in Lincoln. Ask one of the
owners about it. Reflect on its being torn down to
make room for a new government building, a very
real possibility.
Or for that matter, go to any bar in downtown
Lincoln before or after a home football game.
Go to the columns and make out. Does anyone do
that anymore? Did anyone ever?
Go to the Crib and have a cup of coffee. This, of
course, is mere an educational experience. But the
comments you hear will appioach high comedy. For
example: the recipe for Nebraska Union coffee
includes the contents of one Union ashtray.
Buy a bottle of cheap wine and drink it.
Buy a big bottle of really cheap wine and drink it.
In vino Veritas, you V now, and in cheap wine there
are cheap truths.
Recycle this newspaper
Ride a bicycle down 13th Street from Love
Library to Scott's Pancake House at 4:30 on Monday
afternoon. This, of course, is not for everyone.
Remember, on a bicycle you don't trust any
automobile unless you're related to the driver.
Find the man in the white suit around 11th and O
Sts. He will give you a little paper. Read the paper
and argue with the man. You will be arguing with a
Lincoln institution. And you probably will be losing
the argument.
Or you could go to a movie. Lincoln has lots of
movies.
Write your congressman. No, it's not a dynamite
idea, but this is the editorial page, after nil.
Smile a lot. People will be suspicious. Let them.
Ask a stranger what he thinks about the conflict in
Indochina, the devaluation of the dollar or the
continuing decay of the environment. Not really a
thing to do, obviously, but a sure fire conversation
starter.
Go to Nebraska Hall. Contemplate its previous
existence as a watch factory. Wonder at whether it is
better as what it is than as a watch factory. Figure
out what it is and bring your answer to the Daily
Nebraskan office. No one down here knows what it
is, but we want to. Yes, we do,
Years ago there was a rumor afoot that former NU
Chancellor Clifford Hardin didn't exist. The question
has never been resolved. Find out, once and for all, if
Clifford Hardin exists.
Have lunch in a residence hall.
Build a fire in the South Crib fireplace.
Recycle this newspaper.
There are going to be some eople who aren't
going to like any of these ideas. In keeping with the
policy of including in every column at least one
remedy, no matter how desperate, a final option is
offered: don't do anything. Get together a big group
of people and do nothing with them. Do nothing on
Saturday or Wednesday afternoon. Do nothing in the
park or in a bar. Do nothing everywhere, on the
beaches, in the streets, in apartments, in dorms and in
Greek houses. Just don't do anything.
daily nebraskan
thursday, September 20, 1973
